Sargent’s Oaks hopeful resumes Saturday; Grylls snares Derby mount; Surpass favoured for Kaimai Stakes.

Sargent’s Oaks hopeful resumes Saturday

John Sargent’s autumn Oaks hopeful Thunder Lady is set to resume racing this Saturday, the lone filly amongst a star-studded line up in the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill. The daughter of Mastercraftsman finished second last start in the Gr.1 VRC Oaks having won the lead up, the Gr.2 VRC Wakeful Stakes.

“She’s bigger and stronger this time in and it’s a tough field on Saturday so she just has to kick off and then she’ll go three weeks to the Keith Nolan over a mile at Kembla, then to the Vinery over 2000m and then the Oaks - third up is when I expect her to be at her best.”

“She went very well when ridden by James McDonald in her two trials and hopefully we can get him back on her later in the preparation, in saying that we have a very good jockey in Tim Clark on board on Saturday anyway.”

Thunder Lady went to the beach today with Kirramosa who was also due to resume on Saturday however a minor stone bruise will see her resumption delayed a week.

Grylls snares Derby mount

Craig Grylls has secured the ride on progressive Zabeel three-year-old Gifted Lad for the Gr.1 $750,000 TV3 New Zealand Derby.

The Matamata hoop was booked for the ride when he became available after connections of Stratocaster withdrew from Derby contention earlier this week.

Matthew Cameron was aboard the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Gifted Lad when he scooted home from back in the field for second to Imperial Hawk in Rating 65 company at Ellerslie last Saturday.

Bookmakers reacted to that performance by trimming Gifted Lad's quote for the Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week to $31 in a market headed by Mongolian Khan at $3 and Volkstok'n'barrell at $3.20.

Surpass favoured for Kaimai Stakes

Waikato Cup winner Surpass has opened a $6 favourite for the Listed Marks Ewen & Associates Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata on Saturday.

Currently rated an equal $6 favourite with Rock Diva for next month's Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie, the Michael Moroney and Chad Ormsby-trained Surpass has finished second in the Gr.3 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) and Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa at his last two starts.

Michael Coleman rides Surpass from barrier 10.